Restaurant owner takes over Stage Door

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers LIGHTS OUT—A patron visits the Stage Door Theatre in Agoura Hills on closing night. New owners have pledged to keep the theater alive, although for children's plays only. The public is skeptical. Paul Schell, owner of Blue Ultra Lounge and Restaurant in Agoura Hills, announced that he and his partner, Carlos Costa, will take over the Stage Door Theatre lease in November.

Ventura resident Diane Salerno owns the property and terminated a lease with Gale Trumbeaux and Michael Monteleone, who operated the small community theater for the past 28 years.

Trumbeaux and Monteleone leased the property at 28311 Agourea Road from longtime owner Jerry Gaither until he died in 2007, at which time the property was willed to Salerno.

Trumbeaux said Gaither leased the property to her for $700 per month. She said Salerno refused to allow her and Monteleone the opportunity to match Schell's lease offer.

"There was no (lease) dispute," Trumbeaux said. "We were never given a chance to continue, after 28 years."

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers COMMUNITY SUPPORT— Owner Mike Monteleone holds a petition trying to save his Stage Door Theatre. Salerno couldn't be reached for comment, but said in an Aug. 15 letter that the Stage Door operators "shouldn't plan for another season."

"We're not pushing anyone out," Schell said. "That's not what this is about. It's none of my business why (Trumbeaux and Monteleone) are leaving."

Schell says he plans on reopening a children's theater at the site. He said he hopes people who come to Blue for lunch and dinner will patronize the theater, which is in walking distance from his restaurant on nearby Lewis Road.

Schell, a resident of Thousand Oaks, wouldn't reveal details of the lease agreement or say who approached him to consider taking over the theater, but he said, "I think that the community would rather have a theater here than an office building. We'll keep it a theater and save it."

Agoura Hills' resident Christy Mutz hopes Salerno will change her mind and allow Trumbeaux and Monteleone to continue operations. Mutz is circulating a petition and said, "People are just coming to me. Everybody wants to sign it."

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers FAREWELL—Theater owner Gale Trumbeaux is greeted with flowers on the last night of performances. The petition reportedly has been signed by 500 people who want Trumbeaux and Monteleone to remain. The petitioners say they plan to picket Blue this evening, Thurs., Sept. 18.

Final act

On Sept. 13, Stage Door Theatre patrons filled the house for the theater's final production, "Forty Carats."

"At the very end of the performance, everybody stood up and sang, 'There's No Business Like Show Business,'" said Susan Elton, a partner in Agoura Children's Theatre, a program started by Trumbeaux in 1980.

"There wasn't a dry eye," Elton said.

Two children's theaters

Ellen Morano has been running the Agoura Children's Theatre for Trumbeaux for 10 years. Elton partnered with Morano five years ago to keep the children's program at the Stage Door going.

Elton said she and Morano signed a lease in a building across the street from the Stage Door Theatre, at 28240 Agoura Road, in the anticipation that the Stage Door would be closing.

"Ellen and I have been working with Gale and Mike for many years," Elton said. "I'm committed to Gale and Mike."

"The community is outraged," Elton went on to say. "I just can't even believe what's going on. It's really sad."

Schell believes there are enough children available to participate in both theater programs. He also doesn't believe there will be any problems with two children's theaters being located across the street from each other.

Schell, who has already hired two directors, said he enjoyed participating in theater productions as a child, but hasn't performed on stage as an adult.

"I don't do theater anymore, but it's there in my heart," Schell said.

Trumbeaux stopped by the Agoura Hills City Council meeting Sept. 10 to thank the city for supporting the Stage Door Theatre over the years.

"I tried to always be a positive influence on this community," Trumbeaux said. "I'm here to say thank you and goodbye."